chef house

Looking to impress a loved one this Valentine’s Day? Well, we are about to let a secret out of the bag, so move quickly on this one. Couples are always looking for something fun and new, so here is the scoop on the Food Adventure you have been looking for.

The place is in Miamisburg, and has Dayton’s only traditional Japanese style dining room. This means you sit on the floor, on pillows, no shoes. They give you warm towels to wipe your hands, the whole nine yards. More importantly you will have 2 incredibly authentic Japanese menus at your fingertips. One for sushi, and the other features appetizers, soups and entrees. Many of these dishes, you won’t find anywhere else in Dayton.

The place is called ARIAKE SUSHI BAR and is located at 59 Fiesta Lane near the Dayton Mall.

***WIN a $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO ARIAKE from Food Adventures !***COMMENT BELOW ON WHY YOU SHOULD GET THE CERTIFICATE and a WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM.

— Extensive, authentic Japanese menu. The owner Miko Whigham, is a Japanese native. Her daughter recently has joined the team as the customer base has grown. The word is getting out about Ariake.

—The dining area consists of 3 options – sushi bar seating, regular dining room seating, and the special Japanese style dining room, the only one of its kind in Dayton.

—Ariake has a nice selection of Japanese beers and Sake.

—The kitchen specialties include Udon Noodle Soups, Katsu Curry, and Ramen Noodle Soups. The Dayton Roll is the Big Ragu’s favorite and the Sunset Roll and Ngiri (raw fish on rice) and Sashimi (Raw fish slices) options are top notch.

The Cupid Roll – BRAND NEW ROLL at Ariake !!

Whether you are a sushi pro, a sushi rookie, and even if you don’t like sushi, there is something for everyone on their menus.

Sushi Chef Sasaki has some new tricks up his sleeve this Valentine’s Day and ONLY FOOD ADVENTURES has the scoop…

NEW MUST EATS at ARIAKE SUSHI:

—THE CUPID ROLL:
A spicy crab roll, topped with raw tuna, and dabs of spicy mayo. We have fallen in love with this BRAND NEW roll !! A MUST EAT !!!

—THE SURF and TURF ROLL:
A crab sushi roll, topped with a teriyaki beef. Sea and land all wrapped in a sushi roll.

—THE SAKURA ROLL:

Surf and Turf Roll NEW

Sushi rice wrapped with salmon and whitefish, then deep fried in a tempura batter and topped with scallions, spicy mayo, fish eggs and eel sauce. This roll has a zing in the flavor, and is a huge, filling sushi roll!

—FRIDAY SPECIAL:5 pieces of Nigiri (fish on rice), A Handroll, and a California Roll for $9.99. This is a great deal, as the Nigiri alone would cost more than that if ordered at regular prices.

The Sakura Roll – nice and spicy too !

The secret to Ariake is try things on this huge menu… from Bento Boxes, to Meal Sized Soups, Cooked Sushi or Raw Sushi, you will find and favorite and get hooked like us. It’s just like being in love ….

This is the inside scoop, you won’t see this featured anywhere else, these are the first sneak peeks !

***DONT FORGET – WIN a $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE to ARIAKE SUSHI !!! ***Just comment below on why you should win and winner will be chosen at random within 2 weeks. Now is your chance to enter for the opportunity to try some new tastes FOR FREE !

Sunset Roll

Join Food Adventures every week right here on Dayton Most Metro for our feature articles that you wont see anywhere else ! We have more scoop than an empty Baskin Robbins…

If you think Miko’s name is familiar … she used to own AKASHI Sushi Restaurant in Dayton. After she sold it, she waited 3 years and decided come out of retirement. We are so lucky that she did. Eat up Miami Valley- try the Japanese Dining room this week with that special someone. It will be a romantic dinner you won’t forget. Also, perfect for groups. Either way, everyone will be impressed !

Dayton saw lots of restaurants come and go in 2017. As is our tradition each year end, Food Adventures is here to talk about those eateries. Some restaurants were old dinosaurs, others ended up being flash in the pans, and a couple were in between. The Miami Valley’s vibrant food scene saw some exciting additions as well.

Without further delay we give you our annual review of Dayton movers, shakers, and vanishers in 2017, “THE YEAR IN DAYTON AREA FOOD.”

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON PLACES DAYTON LOST IN 2017:

*****CLOSED RESTAURANTS*****

937 GRILL and CAFE:
Barely opened, after Murray’s Place closed, 937 Grill quickly closed as soon as it got started. Rumors of land lord agreements and liquor license problems were mentioned but nothing ever confirmed.

AWESOME YOGURT: Naomi Anderson Fogel opened her yogurt shop in August of 2012, but by March of 2017 she decided that her life and the business had changed and it was time to shut down the Far Hills Ave business.

BAR DUMAINE: Chef Anne Kearney went through a couple of service changes before finally shutting the doors in July of 2017. Lucky for us she’s done a few pop up events so we can still enjoy her amazing cooking.

BRUNING’S WINE CELLAR:
After over 30 years as a clock store, this place added wines and beers. Unfortunately, this location near Fairfield Commons Mall, closed in January, 2017.

CADDY’S TAP HOUSE:

The Original Stroop Rd Location that started Dayton’s Brew Craze

It was in May 2017 when the restaurant abruptly closed, surprising many. The sister restaurant in Beavercreek near the Fairfield Commons Mall remains open.

CARAMELLA’S ITALIAN KITCHEN:
Very short lived Italian restaurant on Wilmington Pike in Kettering. It was formerly Murphys Pub, and Barleycorn’s before that. Elsa’s is debuting a new restaurant in this spot any day now.

THE DAYTON BEER COMPANY on DORTHY LANE:
The smaller, and original location of the Dayton Beer Company locations closed in 2017. This is the spot where the “birth” of the new wave of Breweries started. Owner Pete Hilgeman and his family, purchased a 2nd location near 2nd and Madison. The location is huge and allowed him more brewery area and infinitely more seating. (Editor’s Note- this location will soon open as OinkADoodleMoo)

Flan from El Rancho Grande

DISTRICT 6 DONUTS:
Opened by a former Dayton police officer, they stopped operations in December 2017. Long hours and time dedication constraints were cited by the owners for the reason they closed, after 7 short months in business.

EL RANCHO GRANDE – POE AVE
With some popping up and others closing, sometimes this is like a whack a mole game. Probably the location was a problem here, and the opted for a more visible venue.

HAWTHORNE GRILL / SWEET PRINCE DELI:
This upscale eatery on Stroop Rd had a short lived stint as Sweet Prince Deli, before closing for good.

KETTERING GRILL & CAFE:
The building that for years housed BBQ Hut has closed and became Merit Grill. Although they had an extensive menu, Kettering Grill and cafe never gathered a huge following. The food was good when we went there.

MAX n ERMA’s – FAIRFIELD COMMONS MALL:
Oh how the mighty have fallen. In the late 1970’s, Max n Erma’s was one of the most popular restaurants in town, now they have closed 2 sites in the past 2 years. Still holding on to the one on Miller Lane…

MCCORMICK and SCHMICKS:
Abrupt close for this high end restaurant leaving a big vacancy at the Greene. The next closest one is in Cincinnati.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS:
so much good food has been enjoyed here over the past 100 years at Festivals and County Fairs. The memories and the tastes and smells will live on.

NIBBLES:
After 2 years, the announcement came that Nibbles was moving to a bigger location and re-branding under the name Watermark. No it didn’t really close, it morphed into something more!

PADDY’S IRISH PUB:
This former Beef O Bradys location in Centerville on State Route 48, just couldn’t get the traction they wanted. We loved the fish and chips, among other menu selections.

Paddys Irish Pub had some good fish sandwiches

PALMITAS TACO SHOP: This small business on 2nd Street in Miamisburg had a short run, but look for their food truck this spring.

STAN THE DONUT MAN- XENIA
After 30 years this spot closed not due to lack of business, but the owners citing “personal reasons.”

TACO LOCO closed, but not really. They changed their name to “Tres Hermanos” and the menu is the same with new owners in the family. this restaurant has some of the cheapest and most authentic Mexican dishes in Dayton.

TGIFRIDAY’S – First Huber Heights, then the Dayton Mall location of this casual franchise chain claimed inability to negotiate favorable leases as the reason for closing down these eateries in Sept 2017.

TIM HORTON’S – CENTERVILLE (725):
This Tim Hortons on 725 in Centerville ws one of the first to open in the Miami Valley. Times and competition had changed the landscape in 2017, and in May they closed the doors.

THE WRIGHT WING – on WILMINGTON PIKE:
A deal was struck and the owners of this eatery on Wilmington Pike was taken over by new owners who immediately changed the name to “The Growler.”

HERE IS THE SKINNY ON PLACES DAYTON GAINED IN 2017:

*****NEW RESTAURANTS*****

416 GRILL:
This spot has a breakfast, lunch and late night menu for the crowds near their East Fifth St. location. Salad, soup of the day and more round out this menu with incredible photos on their webpage.

AMAR INDIA:
In Jan of 2017 they opened a 2nd location on Miller Lane, featuring a great buffet featuring soups, fresh baked nan, vegetarian and meat entrees, salad and chutneys.

AU BON PAIN:
Located in JFK Memorial Union hall on the campus of the University of Dayton, it is open to the public as well. French for “with good bread” this shop specializes in healthy sandwiches, soups and salads.

BARRY BAGELS:
In late summer 2017, Dayton received its first Barry Bagels restaurant in Kettering on Far Hills. This Toledo based, family owned restaurant will fill the void for many left by the Bagel Cafe that operated on the corner of Far Hills and Dorothy Lane. This place is fantastic featuring everything from “must eats” like Matza Ball Soup to Lox n Bagels.

Owner Sean McKown has brought back the popular restaurant in a new location (The old Murray’s Place). We expect his popular gumbos, pies, and inventive entrees to steal the hearts of a whole new following. This a Steelers bar with lots of friendly fans.

CANAL STREET DELI:
Familiar sandwiches you grew to love from the 5th Street Deli, reborn in a new location. Time for a quick bite downtown? Here is your new “go to.”

CARDBOARD CROWNS:
With over 800 games, this cafe is a fun place ti visit with friends or family. Games range from ages 3 and up, so all ages are welcome. Fro, role playing games, to board games, you are sure to find your favorite indulgence.

Chaska Grill was formerly India Oven

CHASKA GRILL:
This Miamisburg area Pakistani and Indian restaurant used to house India Oven. The food is amazing and the restaurant features a lunch buffet that is one of the area’s best.

CHICK FIL-A -KETTERING
Opened in the busy Town n Country Shopping Center, they somehow squeezed this into an already bustling series of streets and intersections. Good luck !

CORELIFE EATERY:
This chain out of Upstate New York focuses on a completely gluten free menu based on fresh vegetables. Salads, soup,homemade broths and several house made dressings. Quench your thirst with the health based spiced teas and juices.

DICKEY’S BARBEQUE PIT:
This Dallas, Texas based franchise opened their doors in Springboro in November and have already announced they are looking for additional area locations. They smoke their meat onsite and alway offer free soft serve ice cream for dessert!

DOS LUNAS MEXICAN BAR & GRILL:
This locally owned Mexican restaurant in Tipp City has an extensive menu with a variety of enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas and burritos.

DOUBLE DEUCE TAVERN:
This restaurant moved to Brandt Pike in Huber Heights. Known for pizza and beer, the friendly staff will make you feel at home.

Dippin Chick Fil-A is now happening in Kettering.

THE DRAGON GRILL at CLUB EVOLUTION:
Inside the 120 N. Ludlow location, is now open for business. Nothing like good eats at a dance club.

DUCK DONUTS
This donut chain has a “top it yourself” theme, as well as pre made available donuts. There are locations all over the USA and Dayton’s first taste is the spot on Brown Street.

EL RANCHO GRANDE – DOROTHY LANE
Another El Rancho in town… This one opens up in the old Applebees restaurant on Dorothy Lane. Look for solid choices as always from this chain. The crunchy beef tacos are second to none.

Corelife Eatery at Cornerstone

EL RANCHO GRANDE – OLD TROY PIKE
Yet another El Rancho restaurant opens. This one goes into Huber Heights, and will feature Mexican beers and margaritas. Try the Del Mar Trio dinner. It is amazing.

FUYAO’s TASTE OF THE WORLD RESTAURANT:
What an idea, for a large corporation to open their cafeteria open to the public. This restaurant in Moraine is 8,000 square feet and will feature international food.

GRANDPA JOE’S CANDY SHOP:
Behold a Nostalgic candy store in Miamisburg. Get lost as a kid in this store. We think it was named after the Grandpa in the Willy Wonka movie. We hope you find a golden ticket.

Did someone say they offer $2.50 raw oysters? Sounds like a delicious Food Adventure. Beers too? Lead the way and bring lemons and tobasco !

HEAVIER THAN AIR BREWING:
The Tarkany family is the latest to launch a brewery. This one is the second one in Centerville, the first being Lock 27. Located on 725 not far from Adventure Golf, they are currently working on an experimental Oatmeal Stout and and a Strawberry Farmhouse Ale.

THE HIGHLAND STAG:
Scottish fare and flare from owner Heather Davis and her family. The food is wonderful and the beer selection is unique. This is a fun atmosphere, and the servers are very attentive.

The classic pancake chain dives into Huber Heights. Filled Pancakes and French Toasts, breakfast isn’t breakfast around here if you don’t have whipped cream on top !

LA GOTA:
East Monument Ave’s newest coffee shop. Expect commuters and downtown workers to take advantage of this locale.

LOCK 27 – DOWNTOWN
In the new development across from the Dragon’s Stadium, Lock 27 has branched into a state of the art facility. With his time tested quality beers and food, the formula for success should work in Dayton as well. Lock 27 has a strong, loyal following in Centerville.

MS. PAM’S OLD DAYTON STYLE GOLDEN FRIED CHICKEN: They barely got the doors open on Wayne Ave before they got a “cease-and-desist” order from Fricker’s and had to abandon their original name –Ms. Pam’s Parkmoor Style Dixie Fried Chicken. We haven’t had a chance to check this place out yet, but it’s on our list.

More IHOPS in the area…

McALISTER’s DELI – DAYTON MALL
New deli sandwich shoppe that features double deckers. In the mood for some lunchmeat? This chain is your place for some great club an d turkey sandwiches.

McKENZIE RIVER:
A Pizza based grill and pub near the Fairfield Commons Mall. It replaces the closed Max n Erma’s. This chain operates in 9 different states and brings a Tex-Mex feel to a menu filled with burgers, quesadillas, flat breads, pastas and pizzas.

The menu is over the top, rich and sinful. It is all in the name of cheese. Want the craziest grilled cheeses known to man? Come to Melt, a Cleveland creation that is spreading across the mid-west, throw your diet out the window and enjoy !

MERIT GRILL:
They took over the spot of the former Kettering Grill. Merit Grill’s menu goes from steaks to pasta to orange chicken. The kitchen has been getting great feedback. Check this restaurant out. It is one of Dayton’s sleepers.

MOD PIZZA:
Quick, personal, assembly line Artisan pizzas made in a couple of minutes. Delicious fresh ingredients where you pick the sauces and toppings. The new spot is located in the Cornerstone development.

MIKE’S NASHVILLE HOT:
Damn good stuff, but boy is the Nashville hot sauce hot. Go with a mild sauce, unless you are a hot sauce lover, because this chicken will light you up! Get the banana pudding to seal the deal. Find them at Austin Landing and on 48 in Centerville.

Nashville Hot Chicken launched in Centerville and Springboro

MR. BORO’S TAVERN:
Opened in March 2017, this bar has a huge patio and friendly staff. The pub food is promising and this looks to be a popular place in the future too. Located on 741 in Springboro, it was formerly Bella Vino.

MUDLICK TAP HOUSE – DAYTON:
This restaurant decided to cease operations in Germantown and move to the busier area of E. Second Street in Downtown Dayton. Known for a nice draft beer selection, and a gourmet menu from an in-house chef, this place promises to be a splash hit.

OAKWOOD CANDY SHOPPE:
New candy shop in the heart of Oakwood. We hope this place fits perfectly into the hustle and bustle of the shops on on Far Hills.

Popeyes is adding a new store !

POPEYE’S CHICKEN:
The newest spot just opened in Englewood. This eatery will bring spicy, Louisana Style fried chicken to the northern Dayton area. Years ago, Popeye’s closed their location on Wilmington Pike at the Kettering / Bellbrook border.

R TACO:
This Brown Street eatery offers authentic street style tacos for breakfast, lunch and dinner along with margaritas. It is the first Ohio franchise for this Texas based company, run by the same folks that run Milano’s.

RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN:
For weeks the line was a wrap around mess to get into this place. They literally have chicken strips and 2 other menu items, and people come from all over to eat them up. We love being greeted with “Hot Chicken, Hot chicken, what combo you pickin’?”

S & S MEAT HOUSE:
Sommer and Smith’s Meat House is the new 3rd street BBQ spot. Lifelong Daytonians honing their verisons of Kansas City and Texas style barbecque. These guys have some serious rubs going on….

THE GYRO ROOM:
Brown Street got their own greek eatery this summer. It’s a great place to grab a gyro and be sure and try their spanakopita and grape leaves, as well.

Raising Cane’s incredible chicken strips came to Dayton in 2017

TAQUERIA TRES HERMANOS:
The new Taco Loco is no frills. It is authentic Mexican food at its best. This means homemade taco sauces, soft corn tortillas, and specialty items like sopes and huaraches. Try it, you will love this place.

TIM HORTON’S – RIVERSIDE:
A Harshman Rd. location so you an get your fill of this Canadian companies pastries, eh ? Donuts, coffee or pastries, they make it right for you.

VICTOR’S TACO SHOP:
In July Huber Heights got the newest drive-thru by this locally owned chain, making it the area’s 4th spot featuring tacos, enchiladas, burritos.

WAT DA PHO:
A fun play on words to describe this casual Vietnamese eatery. Obviously the meal sized soups are the specialty, but look for other favorites like soft rolls as well. Located next to long standing cigar shop, The Wharf, it is not far from Wright State University or the Fairfield Commons Mall.

WATERMARK:
The larger, revamped restaurant with the chef/owner Maria Walusis of Nibbles Catering/Restaurant fame. Look for big successes from this charming eatery.

So here is a road map for 2017 Dayton Restaurants, where we have been and where we are going.

Are you looking for something different to to for dinner? Then the Food Adventures Crew has a tip for you. How about dinner at the Dayton Raceway’s Skybox Restaurantat the Hollywood Casino while watching live horse racing at a table overlooking the track? The live racing schedule ends December 30th, so you have that much time to book an unforgettable night of fun and food.

Sitting at the Skybox Bar checking out the beers on tap…

Today, we spotlight an unsung restaurant that really doesn’t get any recognition, but has been putting out some decent food for a couple of years now. It is the Skybox Restaurant at Hollywood Casino and Dayton Raceway.It is a smaller restaurant, with a bar and booth area with seating capacity of about 60 people. During live racing days, the restaurant spreads out serving tables in the racino area that overlook the track on different stairstep levels.

HERE’S THE SKINNY ON THE SKYBOX RESTAURANT :

—A one of a kind experience in Dayton, this restaurant is “Vegas Style” in decor, but during live horse race days, the dining room also includes the tables overlooking the horse race track on 3 levels.

— The races are Harness Racing, where the jockeys are behind the horse on a sled with wheels. The horses have to trot and are not allowed to gallop. Getting into the action is CHEAP ! You can bet as little as $2 on a race and you can use electronic betting machines near your table or place your bet at the nearby betting window with an employee.

Chicken Quesadilla

— Live Harness Racing season ends at Dayton Raceway on December 30, 2017 for a few months.Mondays & Tuesdays: The first race begins at 2:15pmThursdays , Friays & Saturdays: The first race begins at 6:15pmHere is the racing calendar for 2017. Call 937-235-7840 for restaurant reservations overlooking the track with a spectacular view.

— The restaurant is casual American Pub Fare with a couple of local beers on tap, but mostly bottled beers in stock.

— Each month they have a dinner special of the month, December is Steak and Shrimp for $12.99

— Wednesday is trivia at 7pm with special appetizers and everyday they offer 4 domestic bottles in a bucket for $12 or a Birdie Bucket with 10 wings for $18.

All You Can Eat Ribs Dinner for $19.99 – was a past special.

Now you are at the party spot, but what are you gonna eat? Well, luckily the Food Adventure Crew has been to the restaurant about 10 times and tried everything on the menu. As always, over the couple years we have developed our “MUST EATS” at the Skybox Bar and Restaurant.. so here we go …

MUST EATS at the SKYBOX SPORTS BAR at HOLLYWOOD GAMING DAYTON:

— ALL YOU CAN EAT BABY BACK RIBS:
This is typically a monthly special, but anytime they offer the ribs on the menu, you have to grab them. Cooked to perfection, these ribs are slathered in a nice BBQ sauce and melt in your mouth. Fall off the bone? YES and right into your mouth. Ask for napkins, as it is how they say “finger lickin good.”

— THE PIZZA:
The pizza, especially the Margherita Pizza almost rivals local favorites like Spinozas and Old Scratch Pizza. Do you like Dewey’s Pizza? Then you will love the pizza at the Skybox.

— THE PRIME RIB DINNER:
This is sometimes a monthly special for $19.99. If you see it on the menu, you must grab one. The dinner is delicious and so are all of the sides offered. Great view, great steak and races? This is the life!

— CHICKEN QUESADILLA:
Want a huge appetizer that you can share? You wont go wrong with this giant, loaded quesadilla with cheese and veggies, even guacamole and sour cream are on the plate. Indulge! Enjoy!

— THE CHEESEBURGER:
Going simple and quick? This is the best bet and grab a homemade soup. Fresh ground chuck, and melted cheese make the sandwich. The condiments are typical and you build your own burger. Just a good solid, no frills option.

— HOMEMADE DAILY SOUPS:
We have had a couple of their soups, and the chefs really know what they are doing. These homemade creations from chili to shrimp and onion soup have been phenomenal. Always something inventive cooking up in the soup world at the Racino !

Deep Fried Pickle Chips !

— DEEP FRIED PICKLE CHIPS:
Sweet, sour and salty, this appetizer is a perfect one to share with the table. The other option is to grab some ranch dip and slay the basket yourself. Either way you win with good, tasty food, even if you lose your horse race bet.

There they are – the MUST EATS you shouldn’t miss at the Dayton Racino.
This is one of the most entertaining Food Adventures you will ever go on.

Not familiar with horse racing?

IT IS EASY to be a part of the action with these few tips.

HORSE RACING 101.

Here are a couple horse racing tips on us:

1) Bring a pen with you, buy a program, ask them to print out Dayton Raceway only, to save money. Use the pen to take notes and circle your favorite horses. Sometimes betting on the name of the horse works just as good as looking at the stats/odds.

2)Bet $2 on each race, so if there are 10 races, you will only spend $20 on gambling the whole night, and that’s if you lose every race ! If your horse wins, you will be paid out based on the final odds of the horse after all bets were placed. The higher the odds, the more cashola you will be paid!

3) Betting Options:
Bet WIN and your horse must win the race
Bet PLACE and your horse can come in 1st or 2nd and you win $$$
Bet SHOW and your horse can come in 1st, 2nd or 3rd and you win money.

4) Chances at big wins:
Bet EXACTA and you must pick 2 horses and they must come 1st and 2nd place in the exact order you pick.
Bet TRIFECTA and you must pick the horses that finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the exact order you name. You win some decent money if this happens, so it isn’t easy to do !

5) Get into the race by clapping and whistling and cheering your horse down the stretch…
Some of the more favorite shouts we have over heard are …..
“Come on Now 3, mon now !” (use any number you bet on)
“Tap that animal” a tongue in cheek urge to have the jockey tap the horses butt with the long stick to get him to run faster (we dont condone animal cruelty).
“Ghanan ha wa hooha” – while slapping your program on your knee (this is just what most people do, they yell an incoherent scream and go crazy, we are just trying to fit in and add to the excitement and volume.

6) Designate an empty beer cup to toss your tickets that are non-winners. We call this cup the bucket of broken dreams and empty promises.. it makes losing more bearable …

7) Watching the races from the table is great, but take about 6 minutes and during one race, walk outside and watch it from the track. You will be about 10 yards from the horses and it gives you a feel for the speed and intensity of these races. There is no other feeling like it.

In some exclusive scoop this week, we have learned that Dayton company,HouseMade LLC has good news and bad news.

You have come to love their hot sauces and spice rub lines. This locally owned company, owned by Chef LeeAnne House (also one of our Food Adventure Crew) has thrived at local vendors and has won national sauce competitions.

Unfortunately, they have had an ongoing problem, getting the Thai Chili Peppers used in their signature sauces. Currently, they have been unable to source peppers for several months due to import restrictions, trade law changes, and simple lack of local suppliers being able to handle the volume of peppers needed.

Housemade Sriracha Sauce

Housemade couldn’t have picked a more elusive pepper to make their delicious sriracha and hot honey sauces. After dealing with this “too many times” in the few years that they have been in business, Chef LeeAnne House has regretfully announced, that they will no longer continue production of her sauces.

This is heartbreaking for many local foodies, who have fallen in love with the Thai Chili Sriracha Sauce, the addicting Hot Honey Sauce, The Hot Peachy Habenero Sauce, and the Green Serrano Hot sauce. These sauces were not only popular in local stores, but many local restaurants featured dishes on the menu using these Housemade sauces.

Hard to find Thai Chili Peppers

But, there is good news. This isn’t the end of Housemade’s culinary adventures! Chef LeeAnne has her great new spice blends available around the city and has more varieties yet to come. She says there are no problems sourcing ingredients for these blends like they had with peppers.

Housemade promises to continue to make cooking at home fun for everyone! Chef House will still be teaching cooking classes with her spice blends both at Dorothy Lane MarketCulinary School and The Spicy Olive, olive oil stores. She will also continue to rock the local foodie scene here at Dayton Most Metro, each week with her part in Food Adventures.

Like Chef LeeAnne House says “This isn’t the end, it’s a fun new beginning.”

If things change and supplies are plentiful, would she go back to making her sauces again? Answer: “They may be back! You never know!..”

School may be starting, but we still have plenty of sunshine and summer ahead of us! For many of us, summer means using the grill as much as possible. But if you’re falling into a grilling funk, here’s a fun and delicious recipe that is sure to please a crowd. And while this recipe is for a Hawaiian style pizza, get creative and use the base recipe of grilling the dough as a blank canvas for any type of pizza toppings!

You can also grill the dough ahead of time and either keep in the refrigerator for later or freeze!

When ready to eat, top the grilled dough with your favorite toppings and bake in the oven at 375 for about 15 minutes. This recipe is great for feeding a lot of people. You can lay out tons of topping and let everyone make their own!

Lightly oil pineapple slices and jalapeños. For the pineapple, cook on grill until grill marks are distinct. Flip to grill both sides. For the jalapeño, it will only take 2-3 minutes. Slice up into pieces.

Divide dough into four pieces. Roll out onto oiled piece of parchment paper. Lightly oil the top of the dough. Take dough and flip onto grill. Peel off parchment. Allow to cook until grill marks are distinct (about 3-minutes). Do not flip! Remove from heat and place grilled side up onto an oiled pan.

Top the pizzas with bbq sauce, cheese, pineapple, jalapeno, and red onion. Place back onto grill until bottom is crispy and cheese is melted. You might have to turn heat down to avoid burning.

Finish it off with a drizzle of HouseMade hot honey and bacon crumbled on top!

Thats not all Food Adventure fans! You gotta have a base sauce for that pizza!

Bourbon Sriracha BBQ Sauce

Jackie is known for her recipes & her Foodie t-shirts

1 small onion, finely chopped

4-6 cloves garlic, minced

¾ cup bourbon whiskey

2 cups ketchup

½ cup packed brown sugar

⅓ cup cider vinegar

¼ cup tomato paste

¼ cup Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp. liquid smoke flavoring

1½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. black pepper

1 tbs HouseMade Sriracha

Directions:

Pre-Grilled PIzza Dough

Bring the onion, garlic and whiskey to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Low heat to a simmer and allow to cook for 10 minutes. Add remaining sauce ingredients to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and allow the mixture to simmer for 20 minutes. Use BBQ sauce in your favorite recipes or as a dip or topping ingredient.

NOTE:

If you prefer a smooth sauce, run the sauce through a sieve or strainer to remove onion and garlic bits.

Browse the photos below for more about Jax and her recipe. Stay tuned to Dayton Most Metro every Tuesday for a feature food article from the Food Adventures crew.

Pre-Grilled Pizza Dough option

The sky is the limit on the toppings you choose.

Jax is one third of the Food Adventure Crew. She is an Italian mom, who uses her family as taste testers in her home kitchen. Always “Hungry” she is a passionate foodie, and loves trying new restaurants.

The John Pirelli Lodge at Bella Villa Hall is planning the biggest fall festa in Dayton’s history. It is the 40th year for this popular Dayton festival, which always takes place the weekend after Labor Day. For 2017, those dates are Fri. Sept 8th, Sat. Sept 9th and Sun. Sept 10th.

This year we have a big announcement concerning a new beer available only at the Festa.
In a collaborative with Warped Wing Brewing Company, The Italian club will be serving “Limoncella Lager” at the Festa. Festa Director Brian Andsik announced the news, explaining that the beer would be a similar to the popular Lemon Shandy Wheat beer from Leinenkugel, only a lighter version. Again, the lager will be a small batch brewed exclusively for the festival by Dayton’s Warped Wing Brewery.

The Food Adventure Crew and Dayton Most Metro will be working the Festa again this year, at the wine and beer booths.

Other Features for the “Festa Forty” will include:—FABULOUS FRIDAY LUNCH TO GO: Phone in orders to 937-258-3600 from 9am to 11am. Pickup lunches from 11am-1pm, CASH ONLY.

Big Ticket raffle, you do not have to be present to win the Stella Artois Popcorn Maker

Restaurants will be open for drinks and food inside as regular business days for those not in the poker run , who want to to come watch the event and support Pink Ribbon Girls.

50/50 all day ticket sales – winner picked Saturday approx. 6:30pm all tickets will be brought to the Centerville location for the big drawing of 50/50! MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN THE

HOW TO REGISTER:
You have to register in person only.
So make sure you get to your local Submarine House and sign up for this event. Payment is due upon registration. You can register up to the day of the event, August 19th.

Please support this cause, we are looking to draw a huge crowd of bikes.

What better way to support charity than with a nice bike ride around town, ending with some good eats?

SUBMARINE HOUSE HAS TEMPORALITY EXPANDED THEIR MENU with a “Limited Time” insert with new dishes. Some of those are …

For multiple generations, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds has hosted this event. That all ends next Saturday July 15th. So one last time, smell the funnel cakes and listen to the kids on the ferris wheel at the corner of main street. But cheer up, this is one heck of a place for a Food Adventure.So… Corn Dog lovers unite, this is your type of festival. Farmers, carnival rides and special events will fill an action packed week.

Here are some old facts for you foodie history buffs….

FIRST FAIR HOSTED IN 1874
After Dayton failed to win a bid for the Ohio State Fair, the City decided to put on their own fair. Dubbed the “Southern Ohio Fair,” the event started September 29th, 1874 at the place we all know as the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds’ saw over 100,000 vistors that week.

Now for this year’s event ….

FAMOUS VISITORS to the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:President Lyndon B Johnson in 1966, with First Lady – Ladybird Johnson

— WHERE: 1043 South Main Street, Dayton, Ohio 45409 (It is on South Main between Stewart and Apple Streets).

— COST: $8 per person, ages 6 and under are free, but the really BIG NEWS is FREE ADMISSION from 11am – 1pm Monday – Friday so you can eat lunch every day at the fair! Also DMM has a $2 off coupon good on Thursday – just print and present at gate!

FREE TICKET OFFER: Like and share this story and leave a comment below about your favorite fair food and we’ve got a few pairs of FREE ADMISSION tickets we’ll randomly give to those that comment below.

— WHAT: There will be swine, and horse races. There are pie and cake auctions. The fair even has live bands, sheep judging and goat judging! Rabbits, poultry, kiddie tractor pulls, a demolition derby, garden club and the list goes on and on.

So what is happening in 2017’s fair? You know the usual, livestock contests, pie contests, and 4-H activities. But we like to point out some of the favorites we are anticipating. Horse races and Demolition Derby to name a couple!

HERE IS THE SKINNY on THE BIG EVENTS:

MONDAY – JULY 10th —7:00pm 501 Diesel Dirt Drags – at the Grandstands

TUESDAY – JULY 11TH

165th year

Good Food

—7:00pm TUG-A-TRUCK, at the Grandstands

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12TH—7:00pm Truck/Tractor Pull, at the Grandstands

THURSDAY – JULY 13TH—6:00pmHarness Racing, at the Grandstands—7:00pmLive Music/Band “Shelby County Line,” in the Entertainment Tent

FRIDAY – JULY 14TH—7:00pm Live Music/Band “Rolling Stone Rodeo, at the Grandstands”—7:00pm Live Music/Band “Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers,” in the Entertainment Tent

SATURDAY – JULY 15TH7:00pm: Demolition Derby at the Grandstands

This is a food blog. we would be remiss if we didnt give you our often imitated, but never duplicated “Must Eats.”

MUST EATS at the MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR:

— THE ASIAN CHICKEN WINGS at DAVE’S CONCESSIONS:
You can’t miss the huge “Broasted Chicken and Broasted Potatoes” sign that drapes this

Asian Wings

amazing booth. Also, a huge grill teases the crowd with incredible aromas of chicken cooking. But the thing to get here is the Chicken Wings. Deep fried, served whole and drenched in any sauce you can’t go wrong. Our suggestion is get the Asian Sauce.

The Donut Grilled cheese

— THE DONUT GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH at THE GOURMET GRILLED CHEESE BOOTH:
A glazed donut with cheese, pan grilled and with pickles and tomatoes. It is sweet and a tad salty, but surprisingly good! This kind of stuff is what Food Adventures is all about. No rules, no whiners.

— THE BLACKBERRY COBBLER from JEAN’S HOME COOKING:
Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this literally made our day. It was like being

Cobbler

transported to your grandma’s house and the cobbler had just come out of the oven. Get lost in this dish, and take in the taste. The warm cobbler and the sun, melt the ice cream slowly for a creamy experience. We promise you will be impressed.

— THE HUGE SWEET TEA’S:
It is gonna be warm and humid, and nothing zaps that like an ice cold sweet tea. They have a 99 cent size and a huge ass mega size. Get the biggest one they have … you will kneel with thanks for this

99 cent Huge Sweet Teas

day saving item.

Don’t miss your chance to attend the event and say farewell to the memories in your own way. Go ahead, party like its 1899.

In 2018 the fair will move to Arthur O. Fisher Park in Jefferson Twp. Go area and out it on your calendar for July 9-14, 2018.

Are you a Dayton Foodie? Then follow the food related antics of The Food Adventure Crew: Chef House, Big Ragu and Hungry Jax as they open and explore every nook and cranny of Dayton related eats. Love Food Pictures? Then our Facebook site is your Graceland! – CLICK HERE TO “LIKE OUR PAGE

Grilled carrots:
Cut carrots on a bias at least an inch long. The bigger the piece the easier they are grill.
Blanch in salted boiling water. They should still be crisp. Shock the carrots in cold water to stop the cooking.

Chef House from the Food Adventures Crew

Dry off and toss in olive oil. Season with a little kosher salt.
Grill on high heat quickly for grill marks on both sides. Toss with lime juice when they come off the grill.
Top the hummus with sheep’s milk feta and fresh parsley. Serve with grilled carrots.

Grilled flatbread is great with this too!

There you have it. Everyday can be the 4th of July !

We wish you and your family a Happy Independence Day and an incredible summer season filled with food, love and fun!